Online dating provides a relatively anonymous environment to meet people you
otherwise would never come across on a daily basis and running a
criminal background records check only
makes common sense. Many people are just too busy to get out and meet other
people, and even more just don't care for the bar scene any more. Others have
difficulty because of shyness or a certain level of insecurity, and others have
just dumb bad luck when it comes to meeting interesting people. In any case, you
need to know how to protect yourself online from predators, criminals and
frauds.

Online dating services provide a pool of people who share your interests and
that can be a really good start. But if your online dating website does not
screen their users by doing a criminal
background records check, then you need to do it yourself! Then by using photos,
profiles, online videos and psychological matching algorithms, you can improve
your odds of finding that special someone and more importantly, quickly
weeding out the ones they are not interested in meeting.

These services provide a targeted audience of people interested in meeting
someone for a romantic relationship or just a friendship. Social networking
sites like MySpace have their valid uses. But it's like milling among people in
a huge crowd, most of who are there for reasons other than dating. Online dating
services fill a need and their continuing success shows that the good ones can
earn money despite many new, free venues for Internet interaction.

But there are risks associated with online dating services - a downside that
people might not like to talk about but that everyone exploring them should take
into account.

There are, of course, minor risks; such as you typically pay money for online
dating services and you in fact may fail to get your money's worth. The
membership may not include anyone you are interested in. In addition, you may
have to sift through lots of people who are neutral or worse to find that
special someone. That can be a drag but doesn't put you in a potentially
dangerous situation.

It is always recommended that if the dating service does not routinely do
background checks on their clients, that you personally run one on anyone you
are considering meeting.

As a start to a relationship, it's still somewhat 'unnatural' to go from meeting
someone online, to meeting them in person. People are social animals and
communicating face-to-face is still much more effective than any other form but
also somewhat more threatening. Getting over that initial hurdle is sometimes
nerve-wracking.

Contact online is mostly written and a lot of people are not great writers. But
almost everyone can carry a conversation on the phone or in person. That means
the initial contact of an online dating service takes a little bit of effort and
skill. Putting your best foot forward in written form takes time and thought.

But there are other, potentially more serious, risks as well.

The anonymity of online dating services represents a high value. It provides a
safe enclosure in which to explore another person with low risk. But because
it's online and anonymous, it's possible for people to engage in a type of
fraud. Fake photos or descriptions, tailored interests and achievements and
other forms of dishonesty can take place.

That means that whenever you consider meeting someone in person you have some
verification to do. You should always take precautions. As stated above,
background checks are essential. Especially if you are a woman meeting a new
man, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that it couldn't happen to you. It
could and it does every day. Don't be naïve in wanting to trust a stranger. It
never hurts to check first – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The fact that Internet dating services continue to thrive suggests that the
benefits outweigh the risks. Just be sure to protect yourself first by running a
potential date's criminal background
records easy and cheap.

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